Month End to Start the Year

Month end has come.. The last day to finalize, monitor and encode bookings. This is a very important day for sales people. As for me, I am caught in between two great responsibilities: to hit my target sales and join the mission team in Digos. And this is the account of how things went according to the great plan.

I proceeded to the field early morning expecting to finish the day earlier to join the mission team. I only had 150 cases of beers to book. Yet I did not have any problems because everything is appropriated to specific outlets who made their commitments to place their orders on the last booking day. Everything went smooth sailing. Until I came into the last 20 cases of beers. All of my outlets were visited and all of them placed their orders. This is one of the greatest problems of salesman, whether in pharmaceuticals and here in the beer man's world. The last booking is the hardest to find. Yet I remained calm and composed. I can manage this, I said.

My boss called. He asked me if I already had my lunch. He still had the guts to ask me that question, I boldly told him I don't have time for a lunch at this critical moment. The panic came. He needs another 100 cases to fill up the negatives. Another 100 case, to sum it up I still need 120 cases. Time is running fast. He just informed me by 1:30pm about this.

I hurriedly made a quick assessment of the situation. My years of experience in sales was put into a test. I scanned my phone book and managed to do phone bookings. Fortunately I booked some phone orders. And I was able to ask outlets to add some cases on top of their regular orders. I visited outlets whom I presumed to be loaded, fortunately, they placed some orders. I asked for prayers from my fellow mission team guys and yes prayers really do marvels. By 2:30pm I was able to book 242 cases, more than enough for my target 220 cases.

When things go wrong, and it will be... At the end of the day, performance matters. And yes, I was able to perform, not for myself but for the benefit of our district. By 4pm. I went to the office and remitted my sales for the day. Ironic, after I posted my sales, an outlet text me and said they have orders.. Sorry guys, where were you when I needed you..

What would I say..? (My Birthday Message)

Hmmmmm... What would i say..? This would be my first words to say in this blog. Today is my birthday. I am 24. These are the things that I would like to specially mention; the significant events while I was 23.

1. My appendix was taken; 7 days no food and water, 3 weeks no work, and a slash on my tummy. Thankfully it wasn't that life threatening.

2. I joined the Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. I met new friends, I met people with different religious points of view, I met people who made me feel special and who made me see God in a different paradigm.

3. I left GX Intl.; hard as it may but I have to move out of GX Intl. This company taught me a lot, and gave me a chance, a break in exposing myself to the corporate world. I had good friends with GX and I felt sad when I decided to leave. But I have to move into another stage.

4. Proud to Be with SMB. I applied and was hired by San Miguel Brewery Inc. they claim to be the employer of choice, yes they have their say in that matter. This time it's another culture, a different way of transacting sales, and a different attempt to understand and live with this culture.

5. I continue to live happily with my family, friends, and my new found God. I believe that indeed He has so many ways in showing me how much He loved me. I was non-receptive, I did not respond. But He is the God of second chances, the God who is persevering, the God that is faithful and true to His words.

With all these events that took place while I was 23, I thank the Lord for being always there for me. I thank the people who is always at my side when I needed a friend to cling on, you know who you are. More years to come. And let's drink to life!

A Great Sacrifice: Welcoming My New Boss

Last Friday I was given a clear instruction from my immediate supervisor. He told me that on Monday we would be meeting our new supervisor. He will be transferred into a new location, so this week would be our "turn over" week. To my surprise, the instruction was to arrive in the office before seven in the morning. I was about to shout in complain! But silently, and with my innocent eyes I said yes, not to add my cute smile as if nothing was boiling in my heart. I said yes sir, because I know I can make it before seven.

After attending a birthday party last night, I went home Monday 2:30 am. With the 'before seven in the morning' call time in mind, I still chose to party with those people. I drove home drunk. And really had a very tired body and soul. I slept. Fortunately I have this body clock where I really wake up as early as 5 am if i get drunk, regardless of the time I sleep. With just two and a half hours of sleep I woke up groggy and tired. I took a bath and went to the office. I arrived there at 6:40am. Twenty minutes before seven.

When you arrive first you get to do the first jobs, you would turn on the lights, computers, air conditioning, printers, and you would end up seeing all the mess that took place that night. I swallowed them all. I was looking at the time, my boss was not yet around. 7 am, still not around. Alone in the office, I didn't know what to do. 7:30 I was still alone. Good thing after a few minutes some of my office mates arrived. They enjoyed the luxury of my hard work, being the first to arrive. Then by 7:35 am, my counterpart arrived. I was smiling so hard because we all knew that this guy would arrive as late as 10 am. This time, 7:35am! What an accomplishment for him.

Then by 8:15am we were able to meet our new boss. He was decent. He wears his I.D. simply stating that he's a man of details... spooky. He mentioned about forecasts and outlets, which simply imply route rides. I hate route rides. But all the while I was filled with excitement because I would be working with this man for 2 years. I don't have any choice but to make this 2 years enjoyable and a learning experience for me.

Welcome boss..! I am happy to work for. But God, it was really a sacrifice for me to welcome you on a seven in the morning call time.